Stitching machine



Aug. 13, 194 w. R. SPILLER ETAL 2am,

STITC'HING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1,94 3

2 Sheets s 1 'rately in a predetermined Patented Aug. 13, 1946 nit F i CE 2,405,800 STITCHING MACE William R. Spiller and Robert J.-Niederhauser,

Dayton, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments,

to Acme Steel Company, Chicago,

tion of Illinois Application May 6, 1943, Serial No. 185,872

12 Claims.

This invention relates to stitching machines and more particularly tothe general type of machine as disclosed in applicants copendingapplication, Serial No. 472,316, filed January 14, 1943.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide 'a stitchingmachine adapted. to form flat, tight-fitting stitches in hard materialsuch as sheets of metal or the like with the stitches extending in adirection transverse to the line offeed of the material.

It is a further object to provide a machine of this character having aclincher mechanism carried by an arm on or over which the work isreceived, the clincher mechanism being located closely adiacent the sideand outer end of the arm so that a minimum of clearance space isrequiredmaking it possible to form and clinch the stitches close to acorner of the work, for example the inside corner of a box-likestructure.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such astitching machine in which the stitches are formed in a directiontransverse to the line of feed of the work material and having a poweractuated clincher plunger for efiecting the flat clinching of the legsof the stitch with the clincher mechanism arranged to effect theclinching of the legs of the stitch in such relative positioning. 7

It is also an object to provide a clincher mechanism for such astitching machine which may be easily adjusted and maintained accuof theclincher mechanism wear may be readily removed in which the partssubject to heavy and replaced.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. l is a perspective view with certain parts being broken awayshowing a' stitching machine constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view partially in section and partially in side elevationshowing the clincher mechanism at the outer end of the arm on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a view lengthwise of the arm looking down upon the top of thearm from a position to one side thereof partially in plan and partiallyin horizontal section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing theconstruction of the clincher mechanism and also showing in broken formthe adjusted position and I of the head and has head.

drive for actuating the clincher plunger and the support for the arm;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the outer end of the clincher armand clincher mechanism looking inwardly in the direction of thepedestal;

Fig. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale looking down upon theclincher mechanism in the same relative position'as Fig. 3; and r Fig. 6is a detail-sectional view'of the construction providing for the removaland replacement of the clincher plunger.

Referring to the drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the machine is shown as having a main frame including a baseportion I 0, an upwardly projectin pedestal l I, and an overhanging headl2. The drive motor I4 is mounted in the rear portion a suitable drivingconnection to the main shaft I5. Shaft l5 extends through the head tothe front part thereof where the mechanism for forming and driving thestitches is located, the position thereof being indicated by referencenumeral l 6. A coil of wire I! is mounted in a convenient location onthe head and the wire feeds into the stitch forming mechanism in theusual way where it is formed into an inverted U-shaped stitch, thetwo'legs of the stitch being driven downwardly into and through the workmaterial received beneath the The construction of the angle headstitcher is known in the art, and it is not necessary to describe thedetails thereof, beyond noting that the head is so constructed andarranged that it provides for forming the stitch in such away that itstands generally transverse with respect to the direction of feedof'work material under the stitching head and parallel with thelongitudinal dimension of the arm, and is preferably displaced withrespect to the vertical central :plane of the pedestal so that thestitch isactually formed and driven in this plane, the drive mechanismbeing suitably offset to provide for such relationship.

An arm 20 is provided on which the work is received, such arm alsocarrying the clincher mechanism which provides for clinching the tWolegs of the stitch after they have been forced through the work materialand flattening the legs against the lower face of "the material. Boththe arm and the frame are of sturdy'construction beingpreferably formedas relatively heavy castings to provide a, rigid structure hav--v ing aminimum of deflection underthe loads encountered in use.- Arm 20 isadjustably carried on the pedestal, and is so mounted as to havevertical adjustment thereon to accommodate work material of differentthickness, and also is arranged to have lateral adjustment to properlycenter the clincher mechanism with respect to the location at which thestitch is formed.

The clincher mechanism is constructed and arranged to receive and clinchthe legs of the stitch in substantially the plane of the longitudinaldimension of the arm, set, being located relatively close to one side ofthe arm and adjacent the outer end thereof, so that the stitch itselfremains within substantially the central vertical plane of the entiremachine. In this way the stitch may be located close to the edge of thework material and a minimum clearance around the stitch is required.

To provide for obtaining such positioning and adjustment of the clincherarm and mechanism, the face of pedestal l l is formed with the spacedways 22 and with vertical bearing surfaces 23 against whichcorresponding surfaces of the arm are adapted to hear. The arm is formedwith rearwardly extending projections 24 within which there are mountedstuds 25 having engagement with wedge shaped gibs 25 adapted to bearagainst the ways 22. respectively, end plate 21 preventing lateraldisplacement of the gibs. By suitably adjusting the studs 25, it will beevident that the entire arm can be shifted laterally from one side tothe other while still maintaining its firm support upon the ways, andwhen so adjusted and with the wedges again tightened it will be securelyretained in such adjusted position. Preferably three such sets of bolts25 are located in vertically spaced relation on arm ZD to providemaximum security and accuracy of positioning. It will be clear also thatwith the bolts 25 spaced vertically as shown, it is possible to loosenthe uppermost while tightening the lowermost, and Vice versa, and inthis way rock the arm about its longitudinal axis as may be necessary tomaintain it level and parallel with the forming mechanism.

In order to secure vertical adjustment in the location of the arm whileat all times maintaining the arm in desired level horizontal relation.the arm is provided with enlarged apertures 35! adjacent its inner endwhich are adapted to receive locking bolts 32 threadedly received in theface of the pedestal II. The enlarged apertures permit adjustment bothvertically and late'rally'and the bolts at the top of the arm take theload intension' and support the arm firmly.

To effect vertical adjustment of the arm, a pair of downwardlyprojecting lugs 34 is provided on the lower face of the arm 20 and aconnecting pin 35 having a threaded part 36 is secured thereto. Nutsabutment 38 secured to the face of the pedestal.

Thus it will be apparent that having first loosened bolts 32, the entirearm may be raised or lowered upon the pedestal to adjust the position ofthe arm to a'dilferent level by suitably adjusting either the upper orthe lower of the nuts 31. The nuts 31 and bolts 32 are then againtightened to securely lock and retain the arm in adjusted'position.Since it is desirable to have as little movement of the arm as possiblein the course of the stitching operation, the gibs 26 are preferably setup to such an extent that they tightly hold the arm and preferably withsufficient frictional force and is likewise off-- 31 are threadedlyreceived on pin 36 and are located on opposite sides of an to preventdownward rod in turn operating a movement thereof under the action ofgravity. The arm can however be readily actuated either up or down bythe means described above, and thus adjustment is simplified while atthe same time maintaining firm and secure support for the arm throughoutits operation. Suitable indicating and index means may be provided asdesired to facilitate the setting of the arm.

For the purpose of actuating the clincher plunger, the drive shaft 15 isprovided with a cam 40 which actuates a connectingrod 4i such bell cranklever 42 pivotally supported at 43 on frame H. The opposite endof thebell crank engages a push rod 44 which is mounted for movement in asubstantially longitudinal direction in the frame, and projects parallelwith the arm 20 and into a position adjacent the inner end and below theworking surface thereof. Arm 29 carries a push rod 45 supported inextensions formed in the lower side of the arm and in a protectedposition beneath the working surface thereof, push rod 45 being parallelto and having abutting engagement with the end of rod 44. In order toprovide for maintaining the operative relationship established betweenthe two rods 44 and 45 throughout the extent of the vertical and lateraladjustment of the arm 28, one or the other of these rods is providedwith an extended bearing surface so that proper engaging relation ismaintained notwithstanding relative travel of the arm and its rod 45. Inthe form shown, rod 44 is sufliciently large in diameter to have an endface 4401. so that it will have proper driving relation with rod 45 inall relative positions thereof. Rod 45 is retained in one side of offsetarm 20 by means of bearing members 4-5, and is normally urged intocontact with rod 44, in a direction to retract the clincher plunger, bymeans of spring 41. 1

Suitable means are likewise provided for adjustment in the extent ofmovement of the clincher plunger and in the upper elevation which itreaches, to determine the force with which the plunger bears against thelegs of the stitch, and the extent to which it is flattened against thework. Such adjustment can be incorporated at any suitable point in theclincher actuating mechanism and the adjustment may be made accessibleeither from the rear of the pedestal or from a protected positionbeneath the arm. It will be obvious that in this way the effectivelength of the connecting rod 45 is altered thereby changing the range oftravel of the plunger relative to the arm and the dies supportedthereon.

The clincher mechanism is carried at the outer end of arm 20 and isindicated generally by reference numeral 50. The end of the arm isrecessed to receive a frame member 5| of generally inverted U-shapewhich fits within the recess and is supported with its two legsextending downward and resting upon a part 52 which is integral with arm2!). Bolts 53 removably secure the frame in position upon the arm. Part52 thus serves to take the downward thrust upon the clincher mechanism,and the reaction tending to move the clincher mechanism outwardly of thearm is taken by means of bar 54 bolted to the end of arm 20 by means ofbolts 55 and having a part 55 overlapping one leg of the frame and thusresisting the tendency to outward movement thereof.

The frame also embodies an upwardlyextending Web portion to oppositesides of which are releasably secured clamp members 6! by means of bolts63. The clamp members project forwardly beyond the central web and areformed with recessed portions 64 at their overhanging ends to providefor receiving and securely holding a pair of die members 66 and 67.These die members are correspondingly recessed to fit accurately withinthe ends of the clamps, so that when tightened, the clamps will hold thedies in assembled position as shown in Fig. 5, forming a verticallyextending guideway for receiving a clincher plunger, an aperture 68being formed through the base of the frame 5| of sufficient size toallow such passage of the clincher plunger. Since the dies are subjectedto heavy wear in supporting the work material and receiving the ends ofthe stitch as they are forced through the work material and into theouter ends of the dies which are suitably shaped as shown to receive thestitch, it is desirable to provide for their ready removal andreplacement, this being elfected in the present construction by means-ofthe releasable clamping members 6 l, 62. It is not necessary tocompletely remove the clamps when it is desired to release the dies, asthe mere loosening of bolts 63 and the clamps, will permit the dies tobe withdrawn and replaced. Preferably the recesses 64 and the dies 66,61 are made symmetrical so that after being used on one side, they maybe withdrawn and inverted to be assembled in reversed relation withtheir lower sides uppermost, thereby providing additional wear from thesame elements.

A shaft 15 is mounted between the legs of the frame 5| and serves as asupport for rotatably mounting a bell crank lever 15. This lever has anotched out portion 11 for engagement with a drive pin 18 carried by theforward end of the push rod 45, thereby providing for the poweractuation of the lever.

The lever 15 is of less thickness than the space between the legs of theframe member, and is so mounted on shaft 75 as to provide for bodilymovement axially of the shaft. a projecting portion or pin 85! which hasdriving engagement in an aperture 8! formed in the clincher plunger 82,the clincher plunger being suitably shaped to engage at its end the legsof the stitch and to flatten them down tightly against the lower surfaceof the work. Preferably the clincher plunger is constructed as describedin said copending application, Serial No.. 472,316. being symmetrical sothat it can be invertedand additional wear thus obtained.

In its normal driving relation, lever l'li is moved bodily along shaft15 toward the clincher plunger 82 and pin 80 is normally engaged indriving relationship therewith. In order to keep the lever in drivingengagement, a pivoted latch member 84, adjustably supported on bolt 85carried by one of the legs of the frame 5! is arranged to engage theside face of the lever, and is of suflicient thickness to keep the levernormally in engaging relationship with the plunger. The latch has amanual operating portion 86 providing for the swinging of the latch to awithdrawn position where the lever is permitted to move axially of shaf15 to disengage the drive pin from the clincher plunger. Thisdisengagement may be facilitated by the manual shifting of the lever toa release position when the latch has been withdrawn.

When so withdrawn, the clincher plunger is free to be removed downwardlythrough the dies, and to be reversed or replaced as desired. The

and 62 latch is formed with a beveled face 88 and the The lever carriesbell crank with a correspondingly beveled face 89 so that upon returnmovement of the latch, the lever is cammed back to the engaging positionwhere it is kept throughout the normal operation.

This construction, therefore, facilitates the removal and replacement ofall parts of the clincher mechanism which are subject to heavy wear inuse, particularly the dies and the clincher plunger itself. Furthermorethe arm provides a firm and rigid support for the clincher mechanismwith the same being arranged to receive the stitch extending generallyparallel with the longitudinal dimension of the arm, and locatedsubstantially in the vertical central plane of the entire machine.Further the adjustment of the arm, either vertically or laterally, doesnot aifect the adjustment of the clincher mechanism, and does notrequire any change or disconnection in the drive mechanism therefor.Likewise the clincher plunger may be adjusted to drive against the legsof the stitch with a predetermined force and having secured the properadjustment of the clincher plunger operation, the arm 29 may be thenreset for work of difierent thickness, and notwithstanding the raisingor lowering of the arm, it is not necessary to readjust the operation ofthe clincher plunger. Since the two adjustments are independent thesetting of the plunger is retained and it provides for making the sametype of clinch on the new work as before, this being a distinctadvantage where work of different thicknesses is beind handled. Theentire mechanism is highly satisfactory and compact in form, andprovides for the location of the stitches in the direction described andalmost immediately adjacent the corner of the arm requiring a minimum ofclearance with respect thereto.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus. and that changes maybemade therein without departing from the scope of the invention which isdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is? 1. In a stitching machine of the character describedhaving a base. a pedestal. an arm, means for su porting said arm fromsaid pedestal, and a stitcher head also supported from said pedestal andarranged to form and drive a stitch toward said am with the stitchgenerally parallel with the longitudinal dimension of said arm, thecomloination of clincher mechanism carried by said arm for effecting theclinching of the legs of the stitch, means for securing said clinchermechanism to said arm in position closely adjacent one side and at theouter end of said arm providing for receiving work material thereon witha lesser clearance from one side thereof than from the other, and meanscarried on said pedestal and forming a driving connection for effectingthe actuation of said clincher mechanism.

2. A stitching machine of the character described the combination of abase, a pedestal, an arm having a supporting base, means for supportingthe base of said arm centrally upon said pedestal and providing forvertical and lateral adjustment thereof, the outer portion of said armbeing laterally offset from the center line of said pedestal, a stitcherhead carried by said pedestal and arranged to form and drive thestitches with the direction of the stitch generally parallel with thelongitudinal dimension of said arm and substantially centrally withrespectto said pedestal, and clincher mechanism carried at the outer endof said arm and adjacent one side thereof to locate said clinchermechanism in cooperative relation with said stitcher head.

3. In a stitching machine of the character described having a base, apedestal, an arm, means for supporting said arm from said pedestal, anda stitcher head also supported from said pedestal and arranged to formand drive a stitch toward said arm with the stitch generally parallelwith the longitudinal dimension of said arm, the combination of,clincher mechanism carried by said arm for effecting the clinching ofthe legs of the stitch including means forming dies for supporting theWork material and receiving the ends of the stitch, said die means beingspaced from the outer end of said arm by only the dimensions of the dieitself, and clamp means supported on the outer end of said arm and alongone side thereof for releasably retaining said dies in operativeposition at said one side and immediately adjacent the outer end f saidarm providing for receiving the work thereon with a lesser clearancefrom one side thereof than from the other,

i. In a stitching machine of the character described having a base andapedestahan arm, means for supporting said arm from said pedestal, and astitcher head also supported from said pedestal and arranged to form anddrive a stitch toward said arm, the combination of clincher mechanismcarried by said armfor effecting the clinching of the legs of the stitchincluding means forming dies for receiving the ends of the stitch andforming a guide,=a clincher plunger movable in said guide to clinch theends of said stitch, clamp means supported on the outer end of said armand along a side thereof for releasably retaining said dies in operativeposition at the. side ofsaid arm, fastening means located inwardly ofsaid die means for securing said clamp means uponsaid arm, said clampmeans extending outwardly beyond said fastening means ,to receive saiddie means in position immediately adjacent the outer corner of said armproviding for receiving the work thereon with a lesser clearance fromone side thereof than from the other, and drive means carried by saidarm and having a part extending closely adjacent the outer end of saidarm for engaging said plunger to drive the same in said guide.

5. A stitching machine .of the character described the co-mbination ofa. base, a pedestal, an arm having an inner supporting part, means forreceiving said inner part of said arm centrally upon said pedestal insupporting relation thereon and providing for vertical and lateraladjustment thereof, said arm having an outwardly extending offset partbringing one side thereof substantially in line with the verticalcentral plane of said pedestal, a stitcher head carried by said pedestaland arranged to form and drive the stitches with the direction of thestitch generally parallel with the longitudinal dimension of said armand in said central vertical plane, and clincher mechanism carried atthe outer end of said arm and adjacent said offset side thereof tolocate said stitcher mechanism in cooperative relation with saidstitcher head.

6. A clincher mechanism for use with a wire stitching machine of thecharacter described having a supporting arm comprising a frame member,means for detachably securing said frame member upon said arm, a pair ofdie members, means for releasably securing said die membars in assembledrelation upon said frame forming a guide for a clincher plunger, anactuating member for said clincher plunger having a portion projectingtherefrom, means mounting said actuating member upon said frame memberfor bodily movement toward and away from said clincher plunger toprovide for engagement and disengagement of said projecting portionthereof with said clincher plunger, and means for normally retainingsaid actuating member in operative position with its said projectingportion in engagement with said plunger and adapted to be moved to aninoperative position to provide for movement of said actuating member todisengage its said projecting portion from said plunger to a releaseposition.

'7. A clincher mechanism for use with a wire stitching machine of thecharacter described having a supporting arm comprising a frame member,means for detachably securing said frame member upon said arm, a pair ofclincher die members, means for releasably securing said die members inassembled relation upon said frame forming a guide for a clincherplunger, an actuating member for said clincher plunger having a portionprojecting therefrom, means mounting said actuating member for bodilymovement to provide for engagement and disengagement of said projectingportion with said clincher plunger, and means for normally retainingsaid. actuating means in engaged position with said plunger, saidretaining means providing upon displacement thereof from said normalposition for movement of said actuating member to a release position,said retaining means and said actuating member having coop ratin partadapted upon movement of said retaining means to said normal position toeffect movement of said actuating member to its said engaged position.

8. A stitching machine of the character described comprising a base, apedestal, a stitcher head, an arm having a base supported centrally fromsaid pedestal and having an outer portion laterally offset with respectto said base and extending in operative relation with respect to saidstitcher head, means for adjustably securing said arm upon said pedestalproviding for vertical, lateral and angular adjustment about thelongitudinal axis of the arm, said stitcher mechanism being arranged toform and drive a stitch in a direction substantially parallel with thelongitudinal dimension of said arm and substantially centrally of saidpedestal, a clincher mechanism carried by said arm and including amovable clincher plunger, means supporting said clincher mechanism insaid arm with said plunger also substantially parallel with thelongitudinal dimension of said arm and substantially centrally of saidpedestal, and drive means in said arm for effecting driving actuation ofsaid plunger.

9. A stitching machine of the character described comprising a base, apedestal, a stitcher head, an arm supported from said pedestal inoperative relation with respect to said stitcher head, means foradjustably securing said arm upon said pedestal providing for verticaland lateral adjustment in the relation thereof, said stitcher mechanismbeing arranged to form and drive a stitch in a direction substantiallyparallel with the longitudinal dimension of said arm, a clinchermechanism carried by said arm and including a movable clincher plunger,means supporting said clincher mechanismin said arm with said plungeralso substantially parallel with the longitudinal dimension of said arm,drive means in said arm for effecting driving actuation of said plunger,and means providing a maintained driving connection from said pedestalto said drive mechanism throughout the normal range of adjustment ofsaid arm.

10. Clincher mechanism for use with a wire stitching machine of thecharacter described having a supporting arm comprising a generallyU-shaped frame member, means for detachably securing said frame memberupon said arm, a pair of clincher dies, means for releasably securingsaid dies in assembled relation upon said frame forming a guide, aclincher plunger movable in said dies, a shaft carried by the arms ofsaid U-shaped member, a bell crank rotatably supported by said shaft andmovable axially with respect thereto, said bell crank having aprojecting portion adapted to engage said plunger in an operativedriving position thereof and to be disengaged from said plunger uponaxial movement to an inoperative position, and a latch member carried bysaid frame movable to a position to maintain said bell crank in engagedrelation with said plunger and movable to a release position providingfor axial movement of said lever to disengage said plunger.

11. Clincher mechanism for use with a wire stitching machine of thecharacter described having a supporting arm comprising a frame member,means for detachably securing said frame memberadjacent the outer end ofsaid arm, a pair of recessed clamp members, fastening means locatedinwardly of the outer end of said arm for releasably securing said clampmembers upon said frame, a, pair of dies correspondingly recessed andadapted to be securely held by said clamp members in assembled positionforming.

a guide for a clincher plunger, and a clincher plunger movable withinsaid dies, said dies being removable and replaceable upon the looseningof said clamp members.

12. In a stitching machine of the character described having a base, apedestal, and a stitcher head carried by said pedestal and arranged toand drive the stitches with the direction of the stitch generallyparallel with the longitudinal direction of said arm and substantiallycentrally with respect to said pedestal, the combination of an armhaving a supporting base, means for supporting the base of said armcentrally upon the said pedestal and providing for vertical and lateraladjustment thereof, the outer portion of said arm being laterally offsetfrom the center line of said pedestal, clincher mechanism carried bysaid arm for effecting the clinching of the legs of the stitch includingmeans forming dies for supporting the work material and receiving theends of the stitch, and clamp means supported on the outer end of and atthe side of said arm for releasably retaining said dies in operativeposition at one side and adjacent the outer end of said arm providingfor receiving the work thereon with a lesser clearance from one sidethereof than from the other.

WILLIAM R. SPILLER. ROBERT J. NIEDERHAUSER.

